Just back from Exeter where we have been on grandparent duty helping with the lovely Ellen (15 months old). We put her to bed for the first time and we were successful! This was a rehearsal for looking after her on our own. We are thoroughly enjoying being grandparents! We are with Owen (25 months old) on Thursday!

Have been struggling  on the writing front and it is getting urgent as I am supposed to meeting up with Dan (the musical  half of Two Severn Bores)  to discuss our Spring shows imminently!

1. My goodness it is wet everywhere- loads of standing water! I managed to get out for a short walk- didn’t see too much. Kestrel again and some Mute Swans (pictures below). Tried to do some writing but struggled – I am trying to write a story for The Two Severn Bores. 

Currently listening to my team playing in the FA Cup – COYH!!!!!

Some pictures from Splatt Bridge this afternoon. Saw several Deceits of Lapwings over the river- about 2,000 birds my picture is one Deceit! A Kestrel hunting (couldn’t get a decent picture of a Marsh Harrier).

Title sums up my day! We ventured out early morning to do some jobs one of which was buying a child seat for the car! We now can be independent of our children and be able to take Owen and Ellen out in our own car! I think I might be compos mentis enough to be able to take it out and put it in again! Big step forward for us!

I have been writing family poems for years but with two young grandchildren I have tried to write a poem about them around their birthday. So the folders are especially for both grandchildren so there is a progressive record of their growing up.

Finally I went to Wick Court where I volunteer for the first time since we last had children visit in November to sort out the bird feeders so we are ready for our first school next week!

I posted a few days ago a picture of a male Blackcap in the feeder in the garden. Took this one today of the female Blackcap through the window and the rain in the same feeder! The Blackcaps that turn up in our garden in Winter are probably migrants from Europe possibly Germany. The Blackcaps we see in summer our resident birds it seems that the species has two distinct groups now.

I have been busy playing around with a possible story to tell for our next Two Severn Bores show. It is a well known legend that I am setting in the present day.

I am currently reading two books and both have captivated me. The first is A Room Made of Leaves by the Australian writer Kate Grenville about the early days of the new Australia through the eyes of the historical Elizabeth Macarthur. It is an easy read but thought provoking. The other book is much more niche! It is called They Played for David Pleat at Luton Town Volume 1. it is recollections from  many players from the golden era in the history of my football team. I find it pleasingly nostalgic! I have several other books waiting to be read so I need to get a move on!

I am starting to play with ideas for The Two Severn Bores next show. I am letting them germinate at the moment.

Went for a cracking ride this morning to call on a friend.

Enjoyed seeing friends yesterday and then rushing home to watch the second half of the football. Not as fluent as the last two games but good enough to win our third successive match! The Championship is great football to watch because it much more exciting than the Premiership because the teams can beat each other.

Happy New Year to all my readers! Have a peaceful and enjoyable 2023. 

It is a soggy end to 2022!  My goodness it has really rained today!

We have just had our family Christmas on the last couple of days. We had both our sons and their families staying with us. You almost forget how little rest you get with little ones around- both our grandchildren are full of energy! We are both resting now they have all gone!

I did manage to watch most of the football last night as the Mighty Hatters won emphatically in West London for the first time in nearly thirty years. Fingers crossed we can make a clean Christmas sweep on New Years Day!

I am hoping to get some writing done in the next few days.

“Bring Me Sunshine in your smiles………” echoed around Kenilworth Road Luton last night after another epic football match. It was apt our most famous fan from years ago signature tune was played at the end of the Boxing Day game; as we felt the sun was indeed shining! It certainly meant our ridiculous journey to watch a football match on Boxing Day Night and was even on TV was well worthwhile! Everyone at our end of the ground left wreathed in smiles although those that had travelled from Norfolk felt differently! Being there in person watching live sport savouring the atmosphere beats watching on TV hands down.

A picture from last night below- I didn’t take it because I was watching the game but Clare took it! This is the regular view from my seat.

Went for an early morning Boxing Day ride- it is a cracking day! Several Buzzards were sitting in the trees but a real highlight was a Peregrine shot across in front of me at head height. Our Blackcaps are now regulars in the garden and we seem to have a resident Moorhen at the moment!

Sad that our Boxing Day football is at a stupid time one of two silly broadcast times we have this week. We are actually going because we haven’t for family for a couple of days! Fingers crossed it will be a worthwhile journey!